A 90’s child but an 80’s baby, Catherine Sharples aka Kathika was born in the quiet idyllic town of Ulverston in the Lake District. A proud northerner currently living in Bristol she started her career in music and performance working with Dave Crossley at the legendary northern club night MONSTER MONSTER which is now going into its 20th year. Each month Kathika created costumes, decor and promoted the night, performing and hosting with Dave they were quite the formidable team.

Kathika moved to Manchester in 2007 and still working with Dave on the night, she joined ‘genre terrorists’ Lostrites, a 7 piece band with roots in rock and rap. It was there she formed some life long bonds and first got her taste for playing festivals.

 

It was playing Boomtown with Lostrites where Mike Freear watched her perform and thus recruited her into the Slamboree ranks in July of 2012 at Beatherder festival.

Performing is Kathikas true passion and touring with Slamboree everywhere from Panama to Australia she has played some of the most incredible festivals and worked alongside some amazing musicians and performers. 

In 2014 and 2015 Slamboree won several International Breakbeat ‘Breakspoll’ Awards including ‘Best Live Act, being a life long breaks obsessive this was an award very close to her heart. 

 

Over the years Kathika and Slamboree have played some of the biggest festivals in the UK such as Glastonbury, Shambala, Solfest, Kendal Calling, Shindig and Boomtown to name but a few. She has worked and performed with the likes of Lady Waks, Zion Train, Too Many T’s Pete Cannon and the mighty Napalm Death. 

In 2018 Slamboree released ‘The Long Game’ and a new album from the band is due in 2023/24 with tours to follow. 

 

Kathika started a journey into Voice Acting after an illness rendered her unable to perform in 2021, with a heavy heart she had to cancel her shows that year but did not give up on finding a passion to use her voice. 

Thankfully, she bounced back in 2022 and is tearing up the stages around the world again.

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Kathika has consistently championed body positivity, expression, LGBTQ+ and inclusion.